Classical Medical Cases of Doubt Narrative Foreclosure and Mediation in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract Narrative foreclosure is a phenomenon highlighted within the Chinese narrative medicine system, characterized by a state in which individuals become overly suspicious due to certain events in their development, leading to profound concerns about their health and safety. This article employs the logical discourse framework of Chinese narrative medicine to illustrate the experiences of various patients exhibiting typical instances of narrative foreclosure in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cases, such as Bei Gong She Ying (杯弓蛇影 to see a bow reflected in a cup as a snake), Wu Qiu Zhi Chong (吴球治虫 Wu Qiu treats worms), and Fa Jing Qu She (法靖驱蛇 Fajing drives away snakes). It explores how TCM practitioners leverage narrative wisdom to facilitate patients in dispelling their internal doubts through the concept of Bu Yao Wei Yao (不药为药 healing diseases without medicine). Through these medical cases, the article advocates for the significance of narrative competencies among medical practitioners in diagnosing and treating patients, alongside the use of pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions. Additionally, it outlines the prospects for the future development of narrative approaches in TCM.